Titus 3:4-7
"But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. "
This is one of my favorite passages, and certainly tops as it pertains to the Spirit's touch. It is full of God's love for us and clearly describes our salvation.
Simply put, our new birth stems from God's love, was initiated by the Father, worked out for our sakes on the cross by Christ, and is completed in us by the Spirit. The Father determined to give us his mercies, Christ came in obedience to suffer in our place as the sacrifice for sin, and the Spirit brings about our salvation by pouring out God's righteousness upon us.
Let no one say you can be a believer, but not have the Spirit within you unless you evidence some sign gift such as speaking in tongues. The Spirit doesn't come because we worship in the right way, or call out for his presence in the right way, or attend the right church.
In reality, there is nothing you can do to receive a further presence or a second filling or another renewal of the Spirit. Absolutely nothing. Every believer has already received the Spirit as God's gift, so there is no need to seek after the Spirit's touch to come upon you. God is already there, and not because we were ever good enough for his presence. No one can boast in their own righteousness. In fact, when the Spirit comes, he cleans our souls through regeneration and renewing.
What is true is that we need to be a people who continuously confess our sins before the Father. And while this act of contrition has nothing to do with our salvation and the Spirit's presence, for that is already complete, we need continuously cleaning to be effectively used as fitting vessels for worship and service in the kingdom. And there is certainly nothing wrong with asking the Spirit to fill you for that purpose in some fresh way.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for the Spirit's cleansing in my life and your presence to continuously make me new as I fail you through many points in my life. Amen.
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